Thomas Tears Knee Cartilage

Injury Could Keep Linebacker Out Six Weeks

Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas is expected to miss about three weeks of training camp after he suffered a tear of the lateral meniscus in his left knee during an individual workout.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Thomas suffered the injury while running cone drills Thursday at the team's facility. According to Rosenhaus, team physician John Uribe, who operated on the tear Friday, said Thomas would be out for about six weeks.

Under that scenario, Thomas, 30, the starting middle linebacker since his rookie season of 1996, wouldn't return until about Aug. 19. That is just before the Dolphins' second exhibition game against the Redskins and about three weeks before the start of the season.

"The good news is it is not an injury that is going to affect him in the long term and it won't have an impact going into the season," Rosenhaus said. "It will take six weeks approximately for it to be 100 percent. Zach is a great rehabber, but Dr. Uribe feels he needs about six weeks."

About the injury, Rosenhaus said: "I am not sure whether he slipped or what happened. His footing gave way."

Coach Dave Wannstedt said starting strongside linebacker Morlon Greenwood would move to the middle if Thomas were out. That means Eddie Moore and Corey Jenkins, draft picks in 2003, will get more repetitions on the strong side during training camp.

Jenkins, a sixth-round pick, played on special teams last season. Moore, selected in the second round, missed the 2004 season after suffering a foot injury during the first exhibition game.

TICKETS ON SALE

Single-game tickets for Dolphins games will go on sale July 24, the team announced Thursday.

Single-game tickets remain for all games at Pro Player Stadium except for the Dec. 20 game against the Patriots. The Dolphins said fewer than 1,000 tickets remain for the Sept. 26 game against the Steelers and the Oct. 3 game against the Jets.

Individual game tickets are available in the Upper Sideline ($64), Upper Corner ($49), Upper End Zone ($48) and "T.D.'s Touchdown Zone" ($25).

Tickets for the Patriots game are available only through season-ticket or group sales.

Single-game tickets are available at Gate G of Pro Player Stadium, Ticketmaster outlets and the team's Web site at www.miamidolphins.com. The team will have a seat selection event July 24 at Pro Player Stadium, with activities scheduled at Gate G and the entrance for the seat selection through Gate F.

Fans who purchase tickets now for the Nov. 7 game against Arizona can also buy a matching number of tickets for any of the other available games. That offer is good through July 24.